Who is the Panchen Lama?Twenty-six years ago, Chinese security forces took away a 6-year-old Tibetan child, Gendun Choeki Nyima, and his parents from a remote town in Tibet. The boy had been identified by a team of Tibetan monks and lamas as the reincarnation of a premier religious teacher, the 11th Panchen Lama, a decision that the Chinese government opposed. The family has not been heard from since. Today, no one apart from the Chinese authorities has any idea where they are, what they do, or whether they will ever be seen in public or live freely again. Read about the Panchen Lama, a manifestation of Buddha Amitabha, who ranks as the highest Tibetan Buddhist religious figure next to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and whose lineage dates back to 1385. This enriching article was written by Adrienne Moberly Vilaubi, former Executive Director and current Board member. In honor of the Panchen Lama’s 32nd birthday and to benefit the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, we invite you to CONTRIBUTE to our April 25th Facebook fundraising drive or DONATE via our website.
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